BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday (June 7) called for the next national election to be held in December this year instead of April 2026, saying the proposed schedule is unsuitable for the election.

He said, “We firmly believe that holding the election in December is not only possible but also the most appropriate for the nation.”

Mirza Fakhrul was speaking to reporters after paying tribute to BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman at his grave in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Flanked by senior party leaders, Fakhrul placed a wreath at Zia’s grave and participated in a special prayer seeking peace for the late leader’s soul.

His remarks came a day after the country’s chief adviser, in a televised speech on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, announced that the next parliamentary election would be held in the first half of April 2026. 

The Election Commission is expected to publish a detailed roadmap in due course.

Fakhrul criticised the timing, citing extreme heat, seasonal storms, and overlapping events such as Ramadan and public examinations as major challenges.

“The time set for the election is not suitable,” he said. “Campaigning during Ramadan and conducting the vote shortly after the holy month — amid academic exams and unpredictable weather — shows a lack of foresight.”

Earlier on Saturday, Fakhrul voiced his disappointment at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning from Thailand, where he had been receiving treatment for eye and other health issues since May 13.

“This announcement has frustrated not only the BNP but also the entire nation,” he told journalists.

Following the Chief Adviser’s announcement, the BNP Standing Committee held an emergency meeting Friday night, chaired virtually by the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman from London. 

Party leaders reiterated their stance that the election should be held by December 2025, urging the authorities to reconsider the proposed timeline.

SMS/